Ecological, evolutionary, and conservation correlates of territoriality in lineages of hylid frogs

Author(s)

Ricardo Luria Manzano

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2024-05-21

Examining board members

Marcio Roberto Costa Martins; Camila Chiamenti Both; Crisoforo Fabricio Villalobos Camacho; Taran Grant

• Advisor: Marcio Roberto Costa Martins

Abstract

Natural and sexual selection cause territoriality to be associated with environmental and morphological variables. This behavior in turn has negative consequences at the individual and population levels, such as elevated costs and low abundance because of greater spacing between individuals, respectively. Such correlates of territoriality have mostly been studied at the intraspecific level, being analyses of this behavior at broader phylogenetic scales rare in the literature. With these ideas in mind, in Chapter 1 of this thesis we analyzed the evolutionary patterns of territoriality in the anuran subfamily Hylinae, by using data from a detailed literature search. Specifically, we evaluated how conserved two behavioral territorial call and physical combat and one morphological trait associated with territoriality are, the relationship of the two behavioral traits with some ecological and morphological variables, and the relationship between lineage diversification and the two behavioral traits across this subfamily. Then, in Chapter 2 we analyzed patterns of extinction risk across clades (genera) within Hylinae and explored if territorial behavior, as well as other intrinsic and extrinsic factors, explain extinction risk in this subfamily. For this chapter, we also used data from the literature, some of which had been previously obtained for Chapter 1. In Chapter 3, we used the genus Boana within Hylinae to analyze the evolutionary patterns of physical combat and to test whether this behavior has shaped the evolution of morphological and demographic traits, obtaining data from preserved specimens in scientific collections. Overall, we found that territorial call and physical combat exhibit an intermediate phylogenetic signal in the subfamily Hylinae, becoming stronger as the phylogenetic scale becomes narrower (i.e., in the tribe Cophomantini within Hylinae and in the genus Boana within Cophomantini). We also found that territorial behavior is more associated with reproduction in lentic than in lotic body waters in Hylinae. Additionally, male body size and sexual size dimorphism were not correlated with territorial call or physical combat in the subfamily Hylinae, but they were positively correlated with physical combat in the genus Boana, thus finding support for the male combat hypothesis only at the genus level. However, the relative size of morphological structures (head, prepollical spine, forelimbs and hindlimbs) was not correlated with physical combat in this genus, thus ruling out the hypothesis that particular morphological structures have provided an advantage during physical disputes throughout the evolutionary history of Boana. Bone growth rate was not negatively correlated with physical combat at the genus level, thus ruling out the hypothesis of an evolutionary trade-off between these traits. Finally, diversification rates were negatively correlated with physical combat at the subfamily level, but extinction risk was not associated with territorial call or physical combat; instead, other intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as larval habitat, habitat specialization and human population density mostly explained current extinction risk in Hylinae. Taken together, results from the three chapters of this thesis reveal both similarities and differences in evolutionary patterns of territoriality, its correlates at different phylogenetic scales and the importance of this behavior (and other traits) on past and recent extinction risk. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/10189-7 - Ecological, evolutionary, and conservation correlates of aggression and territoriality in selected lineages of Neotropical hylid frogs
• Grantee: Ricardo Luría Manzano
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate